World Geography Chapter 1

The Study of Geography Section 1

Geographic Tools Geography allows you to examine and understand the constantly changing world in which you life. – The study of geography helps you to see your world from different perspectives – Use of maps, graphs, charts allows you to see global patterns, or changes in your neighborhood. – Develop insights about the earth, its people, and relationships between them.

Geographic Tools cont. Geography- comes from a Greek word meaning “writing about” or “describing” the earth. It is the study of where people, places, and things are located and how they relate to each other. – People have always been geographers because they always have be curious about the world.

Technology Geography uses scientific approaches to examine and understand where things are located. Sonar- (SOund, NAvigation, and Ranging)- an analyzes sounds to determine distance and direction.

Technology cont. Satellites- remote-sensing technology. – Scientists compare images to identify changes in land use, vegetation, and urban growth GPS- (global positioning system) – Network of 24 satellites orbiting earth, using atomic clocks broadcast extremely accurate time signals to provide information about location here on earth.

GIS- (geographic information systems) – Uses computer technology to collect, manipulate, analyze, and display data about the earth’s surface in order to solve geographic problems. – Information layered by computers to show relationships among data – Could be used to study topics as different as public health, road construction, and retail market size. Technology cont.

Geographic Concepts Geographers use ideas as tools to help organize the way we think about geography. help us to recognize and understand geographic patterns and processes that we can relate to real- life situations. Geographic Tools- Instruments used to collect, organize, store, or display geographic information.

World Geography Concepts Physical Characteristics- Features of the Earth’s surface, such as landforms, water systems, climate patters, and plant and animal life. Physical Processes- Actions of nature that change the physical environment. Climates- Regional long-term trends in weather and atmospheric conditions.

Ecosystems- Networks of plants and animals interacting with the environment Patterns of Settlement- Distribution of populations among urban and rural communities. Urbanization- Increase in the percentage of people living in cities. Migration- Movement of people, often influenced by push-and-pull factors. World Geography Concepts cont.

Population Growth- Increase in the number of people in a specific area. Cultures- Learned behavior of people, including their belief systems, languages, governments, and material goods. Science and Technology- Discoveries and inventions that help people to change or adapt to their environments. World Geography Concepts cont.

Government and Citizenship- How different viewpoints influence political decisions, divisions, and policies connected to geographic issues. Cooperation and Conflict- Methods used by countries and organizations to pursue goals, such as maintaining or expanding control over territory World Geography Concepts cont.

Economic Systems- Ways in which a society satisfies basic needs through the production and distribution of goods and services. Economic Activities- Use of natural resources, production of goods, provision of services, and distribution of information. Global Trade Patterns- International networks for exchanging goods and services. World Geography Concepts cont.

Natural Resources- Any part of the natural environment that people need and value. Natural Hazards- Natural events in the physical environment that are destructive such as volcanoes and hurricanes. Environmental Change- Natural or human alterations to the environment. World Geography Concepts cont.

Understanding the Past- Analysis of how geography has affected historic events and how places, environments, and cultures have changed over time. Planning for the Future- Use of geographic knowledge and skills to analyze problems and make decisions that affect the future. World Geography Concepts cont.

The Five themes of Geography: Location, Place, Region, Movement, and (Human- Environment) Interaction Each theme offers its own way of looking at the world and its people. Themes are not mutually exclusive- so one needs to know how they relate to one another. Geography’s Five Themes

Location- where it is. It can be described in absolute or relative terms. – Absolute location- its position on the globe Using the hemispheres Using latitude (runs east-west, measures north and south) and longitude (runs north-south, measures east and west) – Relative location- its position compared to other places Place may have many relative locations, compared to one absolute location. Geography’s Five Themes cont.

Place- every place on earth has features that distinguish from other places. Challenge of geography is to understand how the character of a place is similar to and distinct from the character of other places. – Character of a place- consists of a place’s physical characteristics and human characteristics Physical Characteristics-Landforms, ecosystems, climate. Human Characteristics- how many people live, work, and visit? Languages, customs, and beliefs? Economy? Government? Geography’s Five Themes cont.

Regions- group of places with at least one common characteristic. – Common elements may be physical or human. – Could be determined by people perception- viewpoint that is influenced by one’s own culture and experiences. – Formal regions- areas in which a certain characteristic is found throughout the area Geography’s Five Themes cont.

– Functional Region- consist of a central place and the surrounding places affected by it. – Perceptual Regions- defined by people’s feelings and attitudes about areas. – Because various criteria can be used to define regions, the same place may be found in several different regions. Geography’s Five Themes cont.

Movement- places do not exist in isolation, because places have different characteristics people, goods, and ideas will move between them (Human-Environment) Interaction- how people use their environment, changing it, consequences of change, how do people respond Geography’s Five Themes cont.